Trough for trawlers



May 18, 1965 Original Filed Dec. 14, 1959 F. J. LUKETA TROUGH FOR TRAWLERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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THOUGH FOR TRAWLERS Original Filed Dec. 14. 1959 6 Sh t Sh t 2 ea see a J k k l\ OE a Q Q E -2=; 8 3 3 +1 1w; In 7 i l mi i $3 5 r-n 4 r. =a v m. 1' INVENTOR.

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THOUGH FOR TRAWLEHS Original Filed Dec. 14, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. new? J. lac 224 y 1955 F. J. LUKETA 3,184,080

THOUGH FOR TRAWLERS Original Filed Dec. 14, 1959 6 heets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. FRANK v ZJK-TA Y qrgjyudmu ATTORNEY? y 8, 1965 F. J. LUKETA 3,184,080

TROUGH FOR TRAWLERS Original Filed Dec. 14, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Few/v? r1. Amt 57A 4 r role/vi V6 May 18, 1965 F. J. LUKETA TROUGH FOR TRAWLERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Criginal Filed Dec. 14, 1959 INVENTOR. FRANK :17 104 5114 fir/012N570 United States Patent 3,184,080 'IR'QUGH FUR TRAWLERS Frank J. Lnketa, 5567 Greenwood, Seattie, Wash. Continuation of application Ser. No. 859,339, ec. 14, 1959. This application Aug. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 215,041 8 Claims. ((31. 214-15) This application is a continuation of my abandoned application Serial No. 859,389 filed December 14, 1959, now abandoned.

This invention relates in general to a trawling vessel, or trawler, such as that disclosed in my copending and presently allowed application Serial No. 856,806, filed December 2, 1959, now Patent #3,065,562. More particula-rly, it concerns a trough or bin installed on the after deck of the trawler for receiving the entire contents of the codend of the trawl net, an arrangement for spilling all fish from the after end of the codend into the trough, and the arrangements whereby different species of fish can be segregated and disposed of, the valuable fish into hold spaces and junk fish usually overboard, and debris such as mud, rocks, and the like can be cleared from the trough. It concerns also the relationship of such a trough to the usual hatch and hatch cover, such that despite the small deck space or length available, each of the hatch and the trough are of adequate size, but do not interfere, one with the other. The Trawler application referred to is particularly concerned with hauling the net aboard the trawler, whereas this application concerns principally disposition of its contents after the net ha been hauled aboard and emptied, and, usually, reset.

In general terms, and relative to the segregating function, this invention provides a trough along the keel line, on the open deck, and spaced inboard from the side rails sufiiciently that crew members may work alongside it, and of an effective length to occupy substantially all the deck space between the winch and the stern, the whole so arranged that the crew members, one at each side and each standing at one location, can engage, segregate, and distribute the several kinds of fish brought up by a bottom trawl, with a minimum of labor and in minimum time: can clear from a remainder of the catch junk fish which collect on top; can later discharge overboard rocks, mud, and other debris brought up in the net and left in the trough after disposing of the fish, and can swamp out the trough; and when the vessel is not trawling can stow the gear associated with the net-hauling and the fishsegregating operations in convenient manner on or above the deck. If the trawler is engaged in midwater trawling, the catch is likely to be mostly of one kind of fish, and yet the same trough can be used, but a somewhat diiterent distribution arrangement is available, so that the trawler is equally well adapted to either type of operation.

Relative to the relationship between the trough and the hatch, it must be remembered that nets of large capacity, hauled by what is known as the drum trawling method in which the filled codend is hauled on deck over the stern by winding it, in part, upon winch drums well forward on the after deck, require a very considerable length of trough, as much as is required to equal the length of the codend. So much length as is needed is unavailable, between the winch and the stern, except as it includes space usually allocated to the hatch that affords access for icing, discharge of cargo, etc., within the hold. Nevertheless, a fairly large batch is necessary for such purposes. This invention provides ample length for the trough and space for the hatch, by integrating the hatch with the trough, in such manner that each can be used alternatively (for their conjoint use is never required),

Bihifiihd Patents-ti May 13, 1965 "ice and so neither intenferes with the other, and deck space is utilized most advantageously.

In addition, this invention provide a means especially adapted to trawling by the drum trawling method, wherein the codend is pulled in over the stern by a drum well forward on the deck, to facilitate spilling of the contents of the codend out its after end, into the trough, yet without any necessity of engaging and hoisting the forward end of the codend, despite the shortness of the deck.

The above summarizes the objects of the invention, except as to details which will appear hereinafter.

The drawings illustrate in detail a preferred form of construction, and diagrammatically several alternative forms.

FIGURE 1 is a general side elevational view of the stern portion of a trawler having the mechanisms of this invention installed, part of the near side rail being omitted and FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the same;

FIGURE 3 is a general longitudinal section on a vertical plane and to a larger scale, of the devices with which this invention is particularly concerned, with parts in position for segregating and distributing a bottom haul;

FIGURE 4 is a similar view of the fore part only of such devices, showing the main hatch uncovered for access to the hold space, together with a chute arranged as it would be, to dispose of a rnidwater catch;

FIGURE 5 is a similar view of the after part only, showing parts arranged for swanrping out;

FIGURE 6 is a similar View, also of the after part only, showing the manner in which parts can be stowed while the trawler is under way;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view substantially at the line 77 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic longitudinal sections, showing alternative arrangements for the trough, and for clearing it of debris after the catch has been sorted;

FIGURE 11 is a detail vertical cross-sectional view, illustrating an alternative arrangement for quickly and labor-savingly disposing of junk fish that tend to collect on the pile during egregation; FIGURE 12 is a longitudi nal vertical sectional view thereof; and FIGURE 13 is an enlarged sectional view transversely through a gate which is part of the same.

FIGURES 1 and 2 are identical with like figures in the Trawler application, and show a winch 9, with the several drums 9%), 91a, 91b, 92a, 92b, 93a, 93b, mounted athwartwise on the deck 8 as far forward of the stern 39 of the trawler as the deckhouse will permit. Towering warps T extend from drums 92a, 92b aft and over the sides during trawling to a not (not shown). Hauling lines H on drums 91a, 91b are used in hauling the net, and net elements are transferred from drums 91a, 91b onto central drum 9%) through notches 900 in flanges 99a, 99b of this drum 90. Paired posts la, 2a, and 1b, 2b upstanding at the stern guide lines and net elements onto drums 9la, 91b respectively, and finally onto drum 90, as explained in the Trawler application. Lines M1 and M2 reeved through blocks on the boom 81 are for utility use, or for dragging a trynet which is a small net used to test whether fish are present before setting the main net (as the line M2, through block 11 hung from the bridge piece lie is doing, although the trynet is not shown). Stanchions 7 secure the doors (not shown) at the after ends of towing warps T. A ramp 6 supports the loaded net as it comes aboard over the stern.

The remaining elements shown and referenced in FIG. URES l and 2 pertain to the trough of this invention, or

into the different species, and junk fish separated out;

the usable fish being delivered into iced stowage bins in the hold. Provision is made for getting rid of junk fish, and after all fish have been disposed of, provision is made for swamping out the trough, that is, hosing or flushing it out, to get rid of mud, rocks, slime, and other debris[ The trough of this invention includes fixed upright walls 88 rising from the deck 8 and extending from the stern forward as far as space permits, in this instance almost to the winch 9. These walls usually have upward extensions at each side, one of which is fixed in position and the others hingedly mounted. Thestern section 86 is the onethat is fixed in position, and constitutes a support for mov able elements of the net guides 1a, 2.1, lb, 2b, and of the trough. The next two forward sections 83 are hingedly mounted, one to swing outwardly and the other to swing,

inwardly when their use is not required. The extreme forward sections 81 at each side are joined by a roller R which they jointly support, and are hingedly mounted at 81a to swing upwardly and forwardly, 'as FIGURE 4 shows, for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. The lowest portion of the trough, at about deck level, is defined by a landing 85, preferably of plywood and hence replaceable from time to time, for it will become scarred by the fish pews (spears with single curved points) as the latter engage fish lying upon the landing 85, and if of metal would dull the points of the fish pews.

The purpose of the roller R, elevated well above the deck, is to elevate the forward end of the filled codend, as the net is drawn forwardly by the Winch 9, to spill the catch out its after end. Were there is no such elevated transverse element the catch would not spill out readily, and it might still be necessary to strap the codend and elevate it repeatedly by a boom fall line, to clear the catch, thereby defeating a part of the advantage to be gained by the drum trawling method. Drawn over the roller, the codends bottom portion slopes steeply aft and down, and clears automatically. The roller R could be stationary as shown in the drawings, and could be mounted even higher if found necessary, or it could be adjustable, that is, moved upwardly when functioning, then downwardly ing 85, and is made up of several different elements. The

plate 84 slopes upwardly and forwardly from the landing 85, and adjoins a similarly sloped plate 87 which joins and moves with the hingedly mounted side extensions 81 Together these plates 84 and 87 constitute a sloped forward end wall. is closed by an upright end plate 87a. The plate 84 has a hingedly mounted closure plate 84a, capable of swinging between the full line position of FIGURE 3 to the dot-dash line position thereof (shown in full lines in FIGURE 4), and in the latter position it aifords access by way of inclined chute 40 to a hatch 4, and so into two longitudinal stowage bins below deck (not shown). Bolts 84b retain the closure plate 84a upraised, or permit it to be lowered. At its opposite or stern end the trough is closed during use by the plate 82, which preferably is inclined steeply upwardly and aft, and is perforated.

The hatch 4 is seen to occupy space that is needed for the full length of the trough. The hatch must be of sufficient size to permit entrance and exit of men and of The gap between plate 87 and roller R' member of the crew to ice the stowed fish within the hold. It is economical, therefore, and conducive to efficiency, to integrate the trough and a hatch cover, and to provide only a crawl hatch 41, with a small cover 42, for access to the hold, and to cover the main hatch 4 with a cover composed of the side extensions 81 and the upper portion 87 of the troughs forward end wall or bottom plate, supplemented by the crawl hatch cover 42. The term crawl hatch is self-explanatory, for a crew member must virtually crawl through the same to enter or leave the hold space to ice fish therein.

By thus integrating the trough and the hatch cover, each may be of adequate size, yet extra deck space is not required.

The stern end plate 82 is not fixed in position, but is raisable, as by being hinged at its upper end to rotate about the axis of a transverse shaft 21 supported by the side walls of the trough-specifically, by the fixed extensions 86. It is held down by locking bolts 82a, and anchors one end of snubbers 3, consequently, when the bolts 82a are released and snubbers 3 are engaged by line M1 (see FIGURE 5) the end plate 82 is swung upwardly to clear thedeck space astern. The plate 82 can serve as the aft bulwark, or this can be separate from the plate 82. It can be arranged that the action of raising the plate 82 will open a stern scupper a, if there is a separate stern bulwark 80, or else the plate 82 becomes a scupper closure. A pair of chains 88b attached at one end to structure of plate 82 pulls upwardly a scupper closure 800, or movement of the scupper closure 800 may be independent of movement of end plate 82. This enables the entire trough to be swamped out, and various means for so doing shown, particularly in the diagrammatic views, FIGURES 8, 9 and 10. The plate 82 is perforated, and

' this is very important, for it permits the mud and slime in the trough to be hosed overboard periodically during the segregation process, even before the plate is raised for final swamping out.

In the usual case, after all the catch has been disposed of trash (or junk) fish, rocks, mud, and like debris from .a bottom trawl will remain in the trough, and should go overboard. By raising the perforated plate 82, and closure 800 if one is employed, a stream of Water from a hose can be directed lengthwise of the trough to clean it and to wash the debris overboard through the scupper 88a. The hose may be hand held, although FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 diagrammatically show alternative arrangements In FIGURE 8 the bottom plate 84 is elevated about a hinge axis 84 to a steeper angle, as by an hydraulic actuator 84c, thereby inducing gravity disposal of the debris, assisted perhaps by a hose stream. In FIGURE 9 the bottom plate 84d is level, increasing the capacity of the trough, and swamping is eifected by discharges for permanently installed i nozzles N. In FIGURE 10 the bottom 84:: is level, and

a movable forward end closure 87b is movable lengthwise, and carries a scnaper plate 870 bearing along the bottom and pushing the debris aft.

These several arrangements are not only useful in disposing of debris, but also for moving all fish, whether.

by gravity or by hydraulic jets or by an actual pusher blade, to the landing 85 conveniently to the sorters sta-.

tions. Certain. arrangements allow the trough to have maximum capacity, and still to advance the fish dumped therein towards the landing 85. 7

A loaded net is hauled aboard by the drum trawling method, in the manner explained in the Trawler application, and is discharged into the trough. Fish tend to gravitate out'the now open after end from the roller R. .When the net is empty and clear of the trough, and

usually after the net has been reset, crew members sta-.

tioned at a sorters station or stat-ions on deckat the segregation is not required. In such case the closure plate 84a is dropped from the full-line to the dash-line position of FIGURE 3, and the fish slide or are pushed down the chute 40, through the hatch 4, and into stowage bins (not shown). If the catch was the result of bottom trawling, it is likely to be made up of various kinds of bottom fish, some being junk fish having no commercial value, plus rocks, mud, and debris. In such case the closure plate 84a is left closed, as shown in full lines in FIGURE 3, and crew members at the starters stations at opposite sides, adjacent the landing 85, engage the fish with their fish pews. If the catch is large, the side extensions 83 are up, and sorters are elevated above deck; otherwise the extensions are down, and the sorters stand on deck. So far as possible they will select all fish of one kind at a given time, and will toss them into the chutes 5, whence they land on conveyors housed in at 50, and are directed to appropriate bins below deck. Different bins are provided to receive other kinds of fish. Scrap fish are either immediately tossed over the rail, or are permitted to collect on top of the pile. When the junk fish form a top layer too deep to enable ready selection of desired fish, a top gate or gates 82 (see FIGURES l1, 12, 13) hingedly mounted at 82g in plate 82, is unlatched by disengaging spring latch 82h. This gate or gates, of a vertically extending series along the side edges of plate 82, open to the space beneath end plate 82, and the top layer of junk fish is skimmed off with a shovel. Segregation then proceeds .as before. After it is completed the skimmed-off fish go out the after scupper 85a along with debris from within the trough. During segregation the crew members so engaged need not move from positions adjacent the landing 85 and the chutes 5, for the slope of the bottom plate 84 (or the alternate systems of FIGURES 9 and 10) brings all fish by gravity to the landing.

After the catch is disposed of the trough is swamped out, as already described. If the trawler is fully laden, and ready to return to port, the equipment is stowed. FIGURE 6 shows some of it in this stowed position. Extensions 83 are hinged downwardly, the posts 2a and 2b are hinged downwardly into wells 82b in plate 82 provided for them, and posts 1a, 1b, and their bridge bar 10 are swung inboard to a horizontal position, and secured by gravity. The ramp 6 is swung inboard and secured by gravity above the after end of the trough. The plate 82 is down, and the scupper closure 300 is down also, and obstruct-s entry of any following sea. The trawler can now run for port with her catch.

It should be pointed out here that it is quite feasible, and preferable on some trawlers, for a section of the stern bulwark 89 to be removed and the perforated end wall 82, either shifted back or left in place, to serve a dual purpose, as the stern bulwark as well as the after end wall of the trough. It can even be inclined in the opposite direction, and it could be pivoted to swing outboard around its top edge to enable the debris to be hosed or washed out over the stern.

The real significance or essence of the present invention is that a crew member of a trawler can segregate the catch and dispose of debris and also deposit the retained fish in selected bins in the fish hold, all Without moving from his station, in fact, almost without moving his feet.all to the end that the catch can be disposed of rapidly and with a minimum of effort and risk even in heavy weather. This is in sharp contrast to previous practice whereby the catch was dumped, unconfined, on the deck and was allowed to spread over virtually the entire deck. Several shallow walls called deck checkers projected up from the deck to minimize the movement of the fluid catch as the trawler rolled and pitched in the sea, but were of little effect. This method necessitated much movement and labor as well as an element of risk on the part of the deck crew, for the crew members were required to be in constant movement as they pew-ed the fish from one part of the deck and then another, into the hatch, and finally manually shoveled the debris overboard-all while standing on the very slippery deck which was in considerable motion nearly all the time, and in very violent motion during heavy weather.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a trawler having an after deck extending from the vicinity of its stern forwardly, a winch supported at the forward portion of said after deck and oriented athwartship, a hatch in said after deck, aft of the winch, a pair of spaced side walls rising from said deck and extending forwardly from the vicinity of the stem to include between them at least a part of the hatch, said side walls defining the opposite sides of a trough, a bottom landing intermediate said side walls and intermediate the stern and the hatch, an after end wall rising from said landing, a forward end wall sloping from said landing upwardly towards and past such portion of the hatch as is included between the side walls, and a hatch cover removably mounted over said hatch, and including at least a part of said sloping forward end wall.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the hatch cover is hingedly mounted to swing about an athwartship hinge axis at its forward edge.

3. The combination of claim 1, one of the end walls of the trough being arranged for raising and lowering, for disposal of unwanted fish and the like.

4. The combination of claim 3, including a scupper leading overboard from the vicinity of the raisable end wall, and a scupper closure for the same, whereby when the end wall is raised and the scupper closure is open the unwanted fish and the like can be swept overboard.

5. The combination of claim 4, including means interconnecting the raisable end wall and the scupper closure for opening movement of the closure conjointly with raising movement of said end wall, and for their conjoint opposite movements.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the after end wall slopes steeply upwardly and aft, and the forward end wall, including its hatch cover portion, slopes upwardly less steeply.

7. In combination, in a trawler having a hatch in its after deck space, a winch supported ahead of said hatch, a trough supported upon the deck and including upright side walls extending substantially from the stern, alongside opposite sides of the hatch, and forward to a point adjacent of the winch, said trough also including a bottom landing aft of the hatch and a forward end wall sloping uptrough, for gravity delivery of fish to the landing, and after end wall rising from the landing, the forward end wall including a portion overlying the hatch as a cover for the same, and mounted for raising for access through the hatch, and for lowering to close the hatch and to complete the trough, fish-receiving means located adjacent the landing to receive and dispose of fish sorted there, and other means for disposing of unwanted fish and debris remaining within the trough.

8. In combination, in a trawler having an after deck of limited free space, a hatch located in the forward portion of such free deck space, a trough supported upon the deck and including upright side walls extending substantially from the stern, alongside opposite sides of the hatch, and forward to a point adjacent the forward end of the free deck space, said trough including forward side wall portions hingedly mounted and a connecting cover portion, the whole swingable from a position to close the hatch to an open position, and said trough also including a landing aft of the hatch and a forward end wall sloping upwardly and forwardly from said landing, to direct fish by gravity towards the landing, the forward end wall including the cover portion over the hatch, and fishreceiving means located adjacent the landing to receive and dispose of fish sorted there.

(References on following page) Moore 21415 Clarke 214---15 Johnson 214-15 Dolbear Q 214-17 Evans 21415 Cook 1140.5

55 Weber 21417 Liisanantti 114-0.5 Lehmann 114-05 Clark 114O.5 Hauser 214-15 Luketa 209123 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Examiner. 

1. IN A TRAWLER HAVING AN AFTER DECK EXTENDING FROM THE VICINITY OF ITS STERM FORWARDLY, WINCH SUPPORTED AT THE FORWARD PORTION OF SAID AFTER DECK AND ORIENTED ATHWARTSHIP, A HATCH IN SAID AFTER DECK, AFT OF THE WINCH, A PAIR OF SPACED SIDE WALLS RISING FROM SAID DECK AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM THE VICINTIRY OF THE STERN TO INCLUDE BETWEEN THEM AT LEAST A PART OF THE HATCH, SAID SIDE WALLS DEFINING THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF A TROUGH, A BOTTOM LANDING INTERMEDIATE SAID SIDE WALLS AND INTERMEDIATE THE STERN AND THE HATCH, AN AFTER END WALL RISING FROM SAID LANDING, A FORWARD END WALL SLOPING FROM SAID LANDING UPWARDLY TOWARDS AND PAST SUCH PORTION OF THE HATCH AS IS INCLUDED BETWEEN THE SIDE WALLS, AND A HATCH COVER REMOVABLY MOUNTED OVER SAID HATCH, AND INCLUDING AT LEAST A PART OF SAID SLOPING FORWARD END WALL. 